Closing since there is a replacement for xscreensaver-command which is gnome-screensaver-command, and while the options aren't necessarily identical, the functionality is there.
regarding the interaction with other applications, upstream has said that the other applications should be fixed instead. ** Changed in: gnome-screensaver (Ubuntu) Status: Confirmed => Rejected -- gnome-screensaver does not provide a xscreensaver-command replacement https://launchpad.net/bugs/22121 -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs